Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-18
The Scene at Lincoln's Nomination.

lne scene NJ IlncOlMS Nomination..
Though it was not expected to be de-
cisive, the very first ballot foreshad-
owed accurately the final result The
Complimentary" candidates received
tribute of admiration from their re-
spective States. Vermont voted for
Collamer, and New Jersey for Dayton,
each solid. Pennsylvania compliment
to Cameron was shorn of six votes, four
of which went at once for Lincoln.
Ohio divided her compliment, "a for
Chase, 4 for Mclean, and at once gave
Lincoln her 8 remaining votes. Mis-
souri, voted solid for her candidate,
Bates, who also received scattering
tribute from other delegations. But
all these compliments were of little
avail to their recipients, for far above
each lowered the aggregates of the
leading candidates: Seward, 173I; Lin
coin, 1O2.
In the ground-swell of suppressed ex-
element which pervaded the conven-
ton these was no time to analyze this
vote; nevertheless, delegates and spec
tators felt the full force of its Fremont
ton; to all who desired the defeat of
Seward it pointed out the winning man
with unerring certainty. Another little
wrangle over some disputed and pro.
testing delegate made the audience al
most furious at the delay, and Cali the
roll! sounded from a..thousand Threats.
A second ballot was begun at last,
and, obeying force as sure as the law
of gravitation, the former compliment
airy votes came rushing to Lincoln. The
whole 10 votes of Collamer, "A from
Cameron, 6 from Chase and Mclean,
were now cast for him, followed by
scatter of additions along the whole
role-call. In this ballot Lincoln gained
70 votes, Seward only IL. The faces of
the New York delegation whitened as
the balloting progressed and as the tor
rent of Lincoln's popularity became q
river. The result of the second ballot
was: Seward, 1874; Lincoln, 181 scat
tering, 99t. When the vote of Lincoln
was announced, there was tremendous
vote Of applause, which the Chairman
prudently, but with difficulty, con-
trolled and silenced.
The third ballot was begun amid q
breathless suspense; hundreds of pen
ellis kept pace with the role-call, and
nervonsly marked the changes on their
tally-sheets. The Lincoln figures
steadily swelled and grew. Votes came
to him from all the other candidates.
~ from Seward, 2 from Cameron, 10
from Bates, IS from Chase, 9 from Day
ton, s from Mclean, l from Clay.
Lincoln had gained 50t, Seward had
lost Al. Long before the official tellers
footed up their columns, spectators and
delegates rapidly made the reckoning
and knew the result: Lincoln, 23l J
Seward, $50. Counting the scattering
Votes, 465 ballots had been cast, and
233 were necessary to q choice; only Il
nation.
A profound stiffness suddenly fell
upon the wigwam; the men ceased to
talk and the ladies to hutter their fans
one could distinctly hear the scratching
of pencils and the ticking of telegraph
instruments on the reporters tables
No announcement had been made by
the Chair; changes were in order, and
it was only question of seconds who
should speak first. While every one
was leaning forward in intense expect
ancy, Mr. Cartier sprang upon his chair
and reported change of four Ohio
votes from Chase to Lincoln. There
was moments pause,-a teller waved
his tally. sheet toward the skylight and
shouted name, -and then the boom OF
a cannon on the roof of the wigwan1
announced the nomination to the crowds
in the streets, where shouts and salutes
took up and spread the news In the
convention the Lincoln river now be.
came an inundation. Amid the widest
hurrahs, delegation after delegation
changed it's vote to the victor. -Nicoloy
and Hays Life Of Lincoln.